If you had told me 20 or 10 or even 5 years ago that I would a high school secretary, I would have laughed at you and told you to pull the other one, it’s got bells on.

But yet, here I am, halfway through my third year, with some of my sanity still intact. Not that I had much of it to begin with. The day job is part of why I don’t always post on my blog as much as I used to — my energy level in the evenings is often only enough to  read books, crush candy, and play other stupid games on my iPad. Plus, it’s hard to tell the funny stories from my day job, when there are privacy issues involved. And believe, me, I have plenty of funny stories.

And lots of other kinds of stories, too. Heartwarming, discouraging, frustrating, exciting….and everything in between.

I’m going to try to do top 10 on Tuesday posts, with whatever random theme I can come up with, and this week, it’s Top Ten Reasons it’s Interesting to be a High School Secretary:

1. I get to have my memory tested. There are about 230 students in grades 7-12 and I know all of their names and grades. Unfortunately, they seem to think I should also remember every conversation I have with every single one of them.

2. I get to use my bullshit detector. I don’t always catch the liars, but I’m getting better at it. Some of the ones I’ve caught, though, make me laugh. Apparently it doesn’t occur to them that the adults in the building talk to each other, and to their parents.

3. I get to know a lot of really awesome students. For of the kids that make me despair, there are a ton more that are doing great things.

4. I am frequently entertained by a number of students. One in particular goes out of his way to make sure I smile. Sometimes the students don’t mean to be funny, but it’s either laugh or cry some days.

5. I get to work on my ability to control my reaction. One young student in particular has figured out how to push some of my buttons. “Stop yelling at me,” is a classic, and the first time it was used on me, I fell for it — I wasn’t yelling when it was said, but pretty soon I was raising my voice. Now I can say “I’m not yelling at you, you just don’t like what I’m saying.”

6. I am never bored. Every day is different, and usually packed full of randomness.

7. I have more opportunities to embarrass my children, by virtue of being in the building, and knowing their teachers more closely.

8. Speaking of which: I get to work with some really awesome educators. I am also reminded daily that I have absolutely no interest in actually being a teacher in a classroom. They do not get paid enough for what they do. Well, neither do I, but that’s another post….

9. I am reminded every day how great my own kids really are.

10. I get the opportunity to help make our school great for my kids. The ones I gave birth to, and all the rest of them, too.